Electrode placement for wireless intrabody communication between components of a hearing system

• Main Authors: FRANKE STEVE, QI XIE, SCHMITZ CHRISTOPHER D, PARIKH MITESH, MALICK CRISTA, JONES DOUGLAS L, LARSEN JEFFERY B, CALLIAS FRANCOIS
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 31.03.2009
• Subjects: DEAF-AID SETS; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; ELECTROTHERAPY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKEACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; MAGNETOTHERAPY; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY

A number of ear-worn hearing system devices are provided that each include a pair of electrodes to transmit time varying electrical signals therebetween when in contact with skin of a user's body. The devices each include a housing, a sound sensor, and processing circuitry included within the housing. The electrodes are coupled to the circuitry and are spaced apart from one another a distance sufficient to provide capacitance between the electrodes below a desired threshold. The electrodes are disposed along the housing for placement on locations of the user's body where skin contact is not likely to be disrupted by nominal body movements.